Generations of Faith - A New Approach to Faith Formation
 

Generations of Faith is an innovative approach to faith formation that equips the parish to become a community of learning by creating lifelong faith formation that is centered in the events of church life, that embraces all ages and generations, and that promotes faith growth at home, through parish preparation programs, and, most importantly, through participation in church life.

This new approach to faith formation is taking hold in parishes across the United States and Canada, rooted in a comprehensive and compelling vision of faith formation and learning which is lifelong, for all ages and generations, rooted in the life of the Church.

For the last two years, the Parish of Holy Redeemer by the Sea has been introducing a new model of catechesis, called Generations of Faith. We have already covered two of the six catechetical themes, which this program offers. The first year we reflected on the Church Year and the second year we focused on the Sacraments of the Church.

These two years have proved that Generations of Faith is a great way for everyone in the Parish community to get involved and grow in their faith and understanding of our rich Catholic Faith and Tradition.

Generations of Faith offers a unique opportunity for a post-baptismal catechesis which is characterized by:

·                    comprehensiveness and integrity of formation;

·                    its gradual character expressed in definite stages;

·                    its connection with meaningful rites, symbols, biblical and liturgical signs;

·                    its constant references to the Christian community.

Embracing the new vision of faith requires moving away from the schooling paradigm to a community or "whole church" paradigm of faith formation. This shift toward the new paradigm requires a series of significant changes.

• Moving from a focus on children-only (think of all the time, energy, resources we still commit to children only) by implementing lifelong faith formation for all ages and generations, including and especially adults.
   
• Ending "start and stop" catechesis (think graduation at confirmation; think preparation for sacraments) by implementing lifelong and continuous faith formation, learning for a lifetime through involvement in the events of church life.
   
• Overcoming age segregation (think grade levels or groups-youth group, older adults group) by implementing intergenerational faith formation, making connections among the generations in learning programs and parish involvement.
   
• Moving beyond the focus on the "textbook as the curriculum" by utilizing the events of Church life as the curriculum for all ages and generations, tapping into the educative and transformative power of the Church Year, sacramental celebrations, community prayer, and works of justice and service and providing catechesis that prepares everyone to learning by participating in the events of church life.
   
• Changing the attitude of blaming families for our current situation-the "family's faith is the problem"-by nurturing family faith at home as integral to faith formation.
   
• Changing the practice of catechesis as a separate "program" by implementing a more collaborative and integrated approach that involves all of the parish's ministries in faith formation, and views catechesis in its connection with liturgy, sacraments, the Church year, justice and service, prayer.